Gay Romance by Ellis Carrington

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Category Archives: gay romance

Social Media hasn’t been my strong suit–I’d say lately, but I’m pretty sure it hasn’t been my strong suit for awhile now. I can add it to my list of resolutions, and maybe I’ll get better. I love a blog that has good content. Perhaps one day I’ll be able to achieve my own high standards, eh?

In the meantime, Immortal Valentine is on sale for a little while, for 99 cents. Amazon has already changed the price, because those guys are crazy fast. All the other vendors will take a bit longer, particularly ARe – I hope to get that adjusted soon.

If you haven’t yet checked out Stripped Clean and Stripped Away, you might consider checking this out: both books are currently available in a convenient mini-bundle, slightly cheaper than buying them both separately. Right now the bundle is only available at Amazon, but if it seems like there’s demand to make it available at other vendors I may do that.

Stripped Away, book two in The Escapade series, is out today. I love this story, and it was an emotional one for me to write. If you enjoyed Stripped Clean, I hope you’ll also love reading about Greg’s brother finding himself and finding a happy ending.

David Moorehouse has spent his life hiding behind masks. Nice guy. Best friend. Reverend’s kid. After finding his father dead on the floor, he’s been stripped of his job at the family church and his identity as the quiet, nice guy. The life he knew is over, and he doesn’t know what to do next.

HE KNOWS ANGER BETTER THAN ANYONE

Ricky Slade is itching for a fight. By the time he meets David, he’s struggling to save his business, his best friend, his drug-addict brother, and his own sanity. He’s got no patience for his business partner’s judgmental sibling showing up and getting in his face.

Their furious heat turns into a fiery inferno, but Ricky’s fresh off a bad breakup, and David is getting guilt-tripped by his family and his ex. Every time they fight, they fall into bed, but will that be enough when things around them come apart?

Be advised, this book contains: two men with big egos and bigger trucks, more emotional baggage than they can carry, and a whole lot of man on man action.

Excerpt:

There were reasons to back down. Ricky couldn’t think of one right then. Everything had narrowed down to the hard bulge pressed against his thigh and Church Boy’s pupils gone wide in the orange light of that Exit sign up above.
When he came to his awareness next, his fingers had found their way into short, brown hair that was a touch wavy and way softer than it looked. Ricky froze for a moment when Dave’s body did too, and he was a fraction from giving them both an excuse to retreat when full, wide lips pushed against his.

Wasn’t so much kissing as it was two mouths trying to show each other who was boss. Ricky loved that shit. With one hand on either of Dave’s shoulders, he shoved forward. Boot scrapes and fingernails on wood paneling echoed in the empty club.

Dave’s back hit the wall with a grunt that got muffled inside of Ricky’s open mouth. Their tongues slid together, and Ricky couldn’t hold back his groan of satisfaction or the upward thrust of his hips.

Goddamn. He hadn’t kissed a man in so fucking long it made his soul ache.

After a few grasps at Ricky’s shirt Dave managed to get skin on skin, and fuck… that thing about kissing went right out the window. Dave’s large hands had long, blunt fingers and there they went burnin’ a trail straight for Ricky’s nipples. “Hell yeah,” Ricky murmured against Dave’s lips.

“I want you,” Dave answered. His body threw off heat and frenzied need. Under the orange of that Exit sign, demons
and desperation flashed in the man’s eyes. Ricky found himself wanting to know more about what lurked in Church
Boy’s dark side. Wanting to bring it out. Make it scream his name.

If you can’t make it to downtown Washington DC tomorrow, remember that I’m also giving away a paperback copy of Stripped Away to one of my newsletter subscribers. I’ll be doing the drawing on Monday, so there’s still time to get in on that action.

Sinfully Sexy book reviews is also giving away an e-book copy of Stripped Away, you can check it out here along with a very nice four-star review from Macky and an excerpt!

While we’re talking the OutWrite festival and book giveaways, my author buddy David Pratt and his smart, funny work will be at OutWrite this weekend also. In addition, I am giving away an e-copy copy of his latest release, LOOKING AFTER JOEY, over at Cafe Risque. Go leave a comment on the post to enter. I’ll choose a winner on Sunday so you still have some time.

Nothing in life is ever easy, and no one is more painfully aware of that than Josiah Evans, Mateo Sanchez, and Tristan Croft. They know what they want—each other—but with three people as broken as they are, all those pieces aren’t so easily mended.Josiah is their glue. All he wants is to give his men what they need.Mateo wants to absolve himself of his sins. To be worthy of love and to protect it.

Tristan must let go of his past, must learn how to need, and what it really means to take care of someone.

To keep the balance intact, they all have their roles to play. But what happens if the balance shifts? What happens when someone doesn’t play the right part? If one of them falters, they all feel the strain.

The only way to complete their full circle is for all their pieces, despite the curves and rough edges, to fit together perfectly. To do that, Josiah, Mateo, and Tristan must learn to get over the pasts that have defined who they are. And when an old enemy returns and threatens the foundation of their new life, decisions will be made, and boundaries will be tested that could change their lives forever.

Excerpt:

Unedited and subject to change.

CHAPTER ONE

Josiah

Josiah stood in the middle of the building that would soon be his coffee house. In the two weeks since they’d gotten Rhonda back, and Tristan had come home to Josiah and Teo, things hadn’t stopped moving. They hadn’t had much time for anything between Tristan being busy at work, getting Rhonda settled back into her apartment, and now this. This being his dream—the one thing Tristan and Teo had both insisted they made time to get done, sooner rather than later.

In so many ways, Josiah owed Teo his life. Teo had physically saved him more than once and now he owed Tristan his dream—the only thing beside the two men standing next to him that he felt could complete him, in a way. Because they did complete Josiah.

Josiah turned to Tristan in his perfect suit, and studied the sharp cut of his jaw. Leaning over, Josiah kissed him there. “I can’t believe you did this for me.” Though he really could believe it. Tristan was like Teo in that he didn’t realize how big his heart was—at least when it came to Josiah.

“It’s nothing.” Tristan shook his head, uncomfortable with praise, as always. That was something they needed to work on. Both his guys did.

“Think of it as a business investment. I don’t waste money on things that I don’t feel are important—on things where I don’t see a profit.”

Josiah rolled his eyes. Tristan could play this off however he wanted. Josiah knew the truth. As did Mateo and Tristan himself. He’d done this because he loved Josiah. Josiah didn’t doubt that, even if Tristan hadn’t said it again since the one time the words left his lips two weeks before.

There had never been a second he believed everything would get magically fixed in that one night but they were on the right path. They’d get there, and things were better.

“We shoulda’ brought beer. Aren’t you supposed to drink somethin’ to celebrate shit like this?” Mateo stepped around them, fingering one of the earrings in his ear.

Josiah watched him, wondering how this happened. How he not only fell in love with an ex-gang member and a state prosecutor, but how they were all three lucky enough to fall in love with each other.

“Wine. You drink wine on occasions like this. Or champagne, actually. I promise, I’ll convert you one day.” Tristan stopped beside Teo, a half-smile on his lips.

Tristan stepped closer to Mateo and Josiah just watched. He loved watching his men interact with each other—thrived on the light moments they had where they could laugh and tease because they were too few and far between.

Tristan held Teo’s chin between his thumb and first finger. “And yet I’m sure you never saw yourself enjoying a rich, white man. That changed, as will the rest.”

Teo jerked out of Tristan’s grasp but there was a small grin on his lips. “White boys are my downfall. Come ‘ere, Jay.”

Little jolts of electricity fired beneath Josiah’s skin, at the deep, husky sound of Teo’s voice. Both of these men could do that to him, turn him on, turn him inside out with just a word. With just a look.

Josiah moved forward, stopping in front of Teo, who leaned against the counter. Tristan stood next to them both, facing them. This time, it was Teo who grabbed Josiah’s chin, except he only tilted it up as he leaned forward. His mouth covered Josiah’s gently…always so tender when he touched Josiah. It was different than the way he handled Tristan, than the way Tristan handled either of them, with wild hunger.

How could he love something that was basically the opposite in both of them? Loved the way Teo was always so careful with him, treasuring Josiah as though he had to protect him, even in something like a kiss; while at the same time, loving that Tristan knew he didn’t have to be. Or maybe he didn’t know how to be. He felt the passion in them both—one gentle and the other fierce but each equally strong. Funny, that it was the man who’d seen death, who had delivered death that had the need for the softness.

Teo’s tongue dipped into Josiah’s mouth, owning it the same way Tristan did when he kissed Josiah. Teo was the first man he’d had his mouth on, and he knew it as well as he knew his own. Knew the feel of Teo’s tender press of lips, knew the difference between his facial hair rubbing against Josiah’s compared to the texture of Tristan’s.

Josiah stepped between his legs, their bodies touching.

Too soon, Teo pulled back, before turning his head Tristan’s direction. His other lover gave a short, almost curt looking nod. When he did, Teo leaned Tristan’s way this time.

Josiah still stood between Mateo’s legs as he took in the sight of his lovers kissing, and eased Tristan’s fingers away from his pulse as Tristan let Mateo lead the kiss. Tristan’s hand tightened around Josiah, as though Josiah was giving him something in this moment too.

Maybe others wouldn’t understand it. Josiah had no doubt they wouldn’t but he knew he gave Tristan as much as Mateo did as they kissed. Knew the three men all gave each other something they needed.

When Mateo pulled away from Tristan, Tristan spoke. “I seem to remember the two of you planning to get dirty for me in here.”

“We will,” Mateo promised him.

“You have to get dirty with us, though.” Josiah still held Tristan’s hand. He placed his other on Teo’s abdomen.

Another nod from Tristan. “I will.” And then he let go of Josiah’s hand and cupped his face. “You deserve this place. It…” He closed his eyes, let out a breath, and then opened them again. “It’s important for me to be able to do this for you. I need to do this for you.”

Josiah’s heart started going wild the way only these two men could do to him. He knew Tristan felt like he let people down in his life, that he tried to make up for it the only way he could. Helping Josiah get his coffee house was another way for him to do that, and Josiah loved him for it. Turning slightly, he kissed Tristan’s hand. “No, you don’t. Having you is enough, but thank you. This means the world to me.”

Tristan stepped back and glanced at the door as though someone walked in, as though someone could see them through the closed blinds. “Mateo is right. We should celebrate.”

The three of them had never had much to celebrate in their lives. They were three broken men, three broken pieces, that only worked when they were together.

“Yeah, Jay and I will be bustin’ our asses on this place soon. We should celebrate while we can,” Teo said.

“Because you’re a smart guy. Be smarter and don’t argue with him. I like his cookin’.” Teo winked, and then the three men walked out of what would be Josiah’s coffee house, and headed home. Together.

Bio:

Riley Hart is the girl who wears her heart on her sleeve. She’s a hopeless romantic. A lover of sexy stories, passionate men, and writing about all the trouble they can get into together. If she’s not writing, you’ll probably find her reading. Riley lives in California with her awesome family, who she is thankful for everyday.

Coming in August: the sequel to Stripped Clean! Stripped Away is Dave and Ricky’s story. I’m really excited about this one. It’s written to work as a standalone, but if you enjoyed Stripped Clean I do believe you’ll love Stripped Away too.

Cover Art by Pickyme

About Stripped Away:

HE DOESN’T RECOGNIZE HIMSELF

David Moorehouse has spent his life hiding behind masks. Nice guy. Best friend. Reverend’s kid. After finding his father dead on the floor, he’s stripped of his job at the family church and his identity as the quiet, nice guy. The life he knew is over, and he doesn’t know what to do next.

HE KNOWS ANGER BETTER THAN ANYONE

Ricky Slade is itching for a fight. By the time he meets David, he’s struggling to save his business, his best friend, his drug-addict brother, and his own sanity. He’s got no patience for his business partner’s judgmental brother showing up and getting in his face.

Their angry heat turns into a fiery inferno, but Ricky’s fresh off a bad breakup, and David is getting guilt-tripped by his family and his ex. Every time they fight, they fall into bed, but will that be enough when things around them come apart?

Excerpt:

“You know—” Dave made a disgusted noise in the back of his throat. “Never mind. I don’t know what you’re talking about and I don’t want to know.” He threw his stuff in the rear of Ricky’s cab, then turned to jab a stiff four fingers into the center of Ricky’s chest. “Least we can agree on the dickhead thing. I mean, who shows up to a funeral with a firearm?”

Ricky didn’t show up to funerals at all when he could help it. Easier to avoid acknowledging death that way. “Need I remind, you tried to turn away your own brother? That sort of potential was exactly why I brought the thing.”

Ungrateful punk. “He’s the closest thing you got. He deserved to be at that funeral much as you did. ‘Sides, he was born first.”

Dave advanced on Ricky again, hot breath puffing and panting. “My mama’s heart can’t take that kind of shock. I was trying to keep the peace.”

Ricky matched the threat in Dave’s posture. “The person whose behavior was shocking, Church Boy, was yours.” He licked his lips slowly, grinning at the way Dave’s pupils got smaller and larger and smaller again, like he couldn’t decide whether lust or pissed-as-hell was winning in this fight of theirs.

Ricky himself had adrenaline swirling through his veins and a tornado in his belly. Man, this shit was better than a third ride on the Tilt-A-Whirl “I mean damn, any more heated and you and I coulda wound up going to the dirt right there in front of everybody. Bet that woulda really given your poor mama something to— fuck.”

David growled and gripped Ricky’s shoulders, hauling him front-first against the side of the truck. “Shut up. Shut the fuck up!” His breath beat harsh and ragged against Ricky’s ear.

With what air hadn’t been squeezed outta Ricky’s lungs, he laughed at Dave again. Was that the intelligent option? Hell no. This dude had the markers for being at least three colors of crazy. Ricky didn’t back down though, so he’d push until the other guy did.

Or until someone got hurt.

He’d have said no way could this guy kick his ass, not with his glasses and wiry frame, but Dave handled Ricky’s body with a reasonable amount of strength and know-how. Not enough for a total ass-kicking, maybe, but enough to impress. Speaking of impressive…. “If you think I’m gonna be intimidated by the anaconda you’re rubbin’ against my backside, Church Boy, you got another thing coming.” He sucked in a breath. “Gotta tell you though. If fucking in the parking lot is your thing, you really gotta give a guy some advance warning. I would’ve parked in an unlit area.”

Ricky’s most-likely unexpected response must’ve startled Dave into loosening his hands. Ricky twisted Dave’s arm and turned them both, pushing Dave’s back into the truck and Ricky’s fists into Dave’s chest. “See, that’s what I figured,” Ricky murmured with his lips a hair from one mother of a betrayed sneer. “Damn shame, too.”

I’m super excited about this story light, humorous new adult story, part of the Dreamspinner Press Daily Dose “Mended” anthology of hurt/care stories. Evan is hurting from an injury and a breakup, Bale is kind of on a search to find himself after breaking up with his high school sweetheart. They wind up rooming together on a trip through Turkey and Greece, and getting immersed in more than just the local culture. I hope you enjoy:

About Total Immersion:

Evan Stanton is in over his head. Injured from a fall on campus, he’s let his boyfriend talk him into a senior year total immersion trip—two weeks abroad—only his boyfriend ends up dumping him shortly before takeoff. Evan gets on the plane anyway, but he’s lost his hope and added to his pain.

Chris Bale decided to spend his senior year of college clearing his head after breaking up with the girl he’s dated since high school. He finds himself on a flight to Istanbul next to a surly kid with piercings and guyliner who couldn’t be more his opposite. They strike up a friendship anyway, and as they make their way across a foreign land, Bale realizes he’s too immersed in Evan to let go.

“Evan, check it out!” Two of the girls from our group were looking through high-heeled shoes at a table. Next to them, Bale held up a small jar. You’d think it was a trophy. “Penis-enhancement cream!”

The two girls, Tamara and Susan, they giggled and looked at him like he belonged in a zoo. Bale sure didn’t seem to care. You’d think he won a competition. I’d say I couldn’t believe he shouted that shit from two tables away, but after asking the guy selling lacy thongs if they had any in his size and telling the dude at the baklava shop he’d like his pastry with extra nuts? I kind of can.

Turns out Captain Khaki has a bright, shiny freak flag.

I shook my head and made my way over. “Jesus, man. You’re gonna get us thrown in a Turkish prison or something.”

“I’m pretty sure they don’t really do that as often as rumor would have you believe.” He held up the jar. The label showed a grinning old man with a massively huge boner. “So. Whatcha think?”

“I think God only knows what’s in there, and it better never get anywhere near my dick.”

Bale tsked and shot me a scowl. “You know, for a guy who wears studded belts and eyeliner, I’d expect you to be more adventurous.” He reached up and flipped my hair out of my eyes. I hate when people do that, and I’d have said so if I wasn’t in the middle of an argument about penis cream.

~ ~ ~

Thank you for checking out Total Immersion. I hope you enjoy, and happy reading!